ANCHOR LAUNCHES ANCHORWorks FACILITIES SERVICES TO COMBINE HIGH-QUALITY FACILITY CARE WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Innovative social enterprise reinvests in the Carolina Core by creating jobs, reducing barriers to employment, and strengthening communities

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Monday, Nov. 24, 2025 — ANCHOR, Affordable North Carolina Housing Organization, has announced the launch of ANCHORWorks Facilities Services, a new community-centered workforce development and economic mobility initiative.

This nonprofit, mission-driven enterprise provides professional, OSHA-compliant cleaning and maintenance services while creating on-the-job training with a livable wage, personalized coaching, career pathways, life skills training, and supportive services for neighbors facing barriers to employment, including those re-entering the job market, veterans, young adults without postsecondary credentials, and low-income job seekers.

“ANCHORWorks is about more than delivering clean, safe, and welcoming spaces,” said Laurie Ingram, Executive Director of ANCHOR. “ANCHORWorks is about creating opportunity, reducing challenges faced by individuals entering or re-entering the workforce, and reinvesting resources into the communities we serve.”

Through key partnerships with Stepping-Up Forsyth County, Union CDC, the Wells Center for Women in Transition, Forsyth County Behavioral Health Services, The City of Winston-Salem Street Outreach, Family Services, and Forsyth Technical Community College, ANCHORWorks offers a livable wage from the first day of employment, paid training, health insurance, paid time off, and wrap-around case management to support long-term success of team members. Participants will also have access to education and training pathways in digital literacy and leadership development to help them prepare for careers in healthcare, logistics, trades, hospitality, early childhood education, and more.

Community Development and Social Enterprise Manager, Adrienne Numaworse explains, “Every future service contract we secure will help provide the dignity of meaningful work, household stability, and economic mobility for our team members.”

By its fifth year, AWFS is projected to:

• Train and employ more than 60 individuals in building services

• Place at least 40% of participants into long-term employment

• Generate more than $243,000 annually in external revenue reinvested locally

• Cut ANCHOR’s janitorial costs by 50%

“When organizations choose ANCHORWorks, they’re not just securing professional facility services,” Ingram added. “They are strengthening the local economy, supporting workforce reentry, and advancing equity in our region.”

ANCHORWorks will begin servicing ANCHOR’s own properties before expanding to nonprofit, municipal, and commercial clients across the region.

ANCHOR is seeking qualified candidate referrals for the program. For more information about ANCHORWorks Facilities Services or to explore a facilities partnership, visit www.anchornc.org/anchorworks.

About ANCHOR — Affordable North Carolina Housing Organization:

Safe and affordable housing is the cornerstone of thriving communities, and ANCHOR — Affordable North Carolina Housing ORganization — is dedicated to making it a reality for low- to moderate-income individuals and families across North Carolina. As a nonprofit leader in the development and management of affordable housing, ANCHOR is guided by a “Housing First” philosophy, connecting residents — including seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities — to essential community services that enhance housing stability and quality of life. A trusted leader in affordable housing since 1968, ANCHOR provides more than just housing; it creates stability, hope, and a place to call home.

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